Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekromanov’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekromanov’, characterized by its decorative-type inflorescences with green and white-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical Designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekromanov’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Dekromanov’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new freely floweringdecorative-type Chrysanthemum cultivars with unique ray floretcoloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on May 19, 2005 of a proprietaryselection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41048,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number04.9150.01, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHensbroek, The Netherlands on Oct. 3, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands sinceNov. 12, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this newChrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dekromanov’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dekromanov’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Decorative-type inflorescences with green and white-colored        ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 50        days after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about 25 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent        selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female        parent selection have white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Fiibis’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of ‘Fiibis’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants        of ‘Fiibis’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences        than plants of ‘Fiibis’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Fiibis’ differ in ray        floret color as plants of ‘Fiibis’ had white-colored ray        florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Dekromanov’ grown as a single-stem plant.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of upper and lowersurfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and typical leaves (right) ofplants of ‘Dekromanov’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown as single-stem plants during the winter and early spring inHensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatmentsfollowed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiationand development. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to22° C. and light levels were about 7 kilolux. Plants were pinched onetime and were about nine weeks from planting when the photographs andthe description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dekromanov’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41048,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            04.9150.01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About four to six days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 13 to 15 days at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single-stem plant.            Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            75 cm. Spray diameter: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Texture: Finely            pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Foliage descriptions.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple.            Length: About 10 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 6 cm to 9 cm.            Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed;            sinuses parallel to divergent. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent, slightly rough; veins prominent on            lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:            Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to            146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, 146C. Petiole: Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth. Texture, lower surface: Slightly rough. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146B to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close            to 146C to 146D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            oval-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals,            arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets develop            acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences moderately            fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering            response; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short            night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive            short day/long night conditions flower about 50 days later            when grown as a single-stem plant.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about 25 days. Inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when            grown as a spray type, about 50 inflorescences per flowering            stem develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Depth            (height): About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm.            Receptacle height: About 4 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 7            mm to 8 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 145B to 145C.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Flattened spherical. Height:            About 5 mm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color: Between 137C to            137D and 148D.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 8            mm to 17 mm. Shape: Oval. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Angle: Initially upright to close to            perpendicular to the peduncle. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number per            inflorescence: About 200 arranged in about ten whorls.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 145D. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 150D. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 155D. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 178B; color becoming closer to 173A with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, elongated. Apex:            Dentate. Length: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Number per inflorescence: About five massed in the center.            Color: Immature: Apex: Close to 144B. Mid-section: Close to            12A. Base: Close to 150D. Mature: Apex: Close to 2B.            Mid-section: Close to 145B to 145C. Base: Close to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm to            6 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to oval or obovate. Apex: Rounded,            obtuse. Base: Obtuse to truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number per            inflorescence: About 20 arranged in two to three whorls.            Color, upper surface: Close to 137B and 137C. Color, lower            surface: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 10 cm. Length, seventh peduncle:            About 15 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Angle: Erect to            about 30° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to            146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamens per floret: About two to three. Filament            length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 145A.            Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 4D.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil            length: About 6 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:            Close to 145A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not            been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekromanov’ asillustrated and described.